Last spring Derik and I took a two month trip to Hawaii, the Philippines, and Thailand. It was an amazing two months, and I remarkably still have a lot of our trip to share with you! During our time in Thailand the violent protests in Bangkok were taking place, and we were a little bit hesitant to visit. Safety is always our number one concern, and it’s always a bit iffy visiting a place you know nothing about while civil war/violence is happening down the street.
Sala Arun Review
We really wanted to visit Bangkok since it is such a central hub for Thailand, but knew we had to be smart about where we visited and how we got there. We did quite a bit of research and it seemed the area around the Grand Palace would be one of the safest places for us to visit at this time. Although I was sad we weren’t able to explore more of the city, the day and a half we had along the river was magical! We had been running around like crazy down in the Phuket area, and were on our way up north to Chiang Mai where we would be hitting the ground at 100mph again, so having a little R&R time in Bangkok was just what we needed.
We found the Sala Arun boutique hotel online through Agoda, and just knew we had to get a room for the night! A cute little bed and breakfast type accommodation RIGHT on the river, with stunning views from the room windows, AND a rooftop bar? Not much can top all that, but I should probably also mention it was literally a block away from the Grand Palace!
The second Derik and I walked down that cramped little alleyway to get to the Sala Arun and walked through the lobby doors, I just knew it was going to be a wonderful stay. The lobby immediately made me feel comfortable with old books lining the shelves, an incredible view out the back, and cheerful, friendly hotel staff.
The Room
We were already feeling pretty good about our stay, but were then complementary upgraded to a riverside room that was nothing short of spectacular. The second I walked into the room I was wishing I could somehow take it all home with me. The furnishings, the flowers, the candles, the soaps, the bed…it was all quaint, bright, and clean.
The Experience
Sala Arun offers more than just a nice place to lay your head; they offer a rooftop bar (Eagle’s Nest) directly across the river from the spectacular Wat Arun, and a delicious outdoor/indoor restaurant downstairs behind the lobby. There was nothing more peaceful than watching the sun go down behind Wat Arun with a cocktail in hand. After our sunset drinks, we ordered dinner at the restaurant and honestly felt like we were at the finest dining establishment! Although the portion sizes weren’t the biggest, the quality of food you get leaves you feeling full and satisfied with paying the menu price for dinner. Breakfast was equally as great and included in the accommodation price.
Book this accommodation if
…you need time to relax and unwind.
…you’re okay a little street/river noise (let’s face it…it’s still in the middle of a city).
…you’re interested in wandering around the Grand Palace and other surrounding historical sites.
…you like a nice cold drink at sunset.
…you’re wanting a private stay outside of a corporate hotel chain. This bed and breakfast only has 7 rooms!
Deluxe Room Rate: $100-$125 per night.